Our Daytona Clone...Should I Put The Plug In?

[A383Wing]

Question for all....below are a couple of pictures of the car we built from nothing....we kinda ran out of money to do the whole car correctly.....my question is this....should we tear the car down and put in the rear window plug? Or leave it the way it is.... 

Bryan   

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

heres it for sale i think 70 model looks way better then 69-MATT


http://www.cars-on-line.com/70daytona2977.html

[Wakko]

I personally think that it looks great just the way it is.  If it bothers you, what would it cost to plug it up? 

[bull]

It's not a complete clone w/o the plug.

[Old Moparz]

If you don't have the money, then don't do it. Just drive & enjoy the car the way it is, it looks very nice. If you aren't happy without the plug, then save up to do it that way, & don't start it until you can afford to. (Nothing worse than an unfinished project with no money to finish it.) Personally, I wouldn't put in the plug for several reasons. It is an expensive addition, I never liked the look of the rear window being flush as much as being recessed, it's easier to convert it back if you decided to do that, & I have no interest in trying to pass mine off as a real one. I also like the nose & wing a heck of a lot more than the plug.

[hotrod98]

The great debate goes on. While it's going to be a lot of work, I've decided to plug my Daytona clone. It just looks so unfinished without it. It's like something's missing. As soon as mine is finished, we're building my wife a semi-clone. She wants her's to have just the wing and fender scoops. She also wants it painted to match her 73 cuda. We've already ordered two sets of wings from Dane so the decision has been made.

I say go for it.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Question for all....below are a couple of pictures of the car we built from nothing....we kinda ran out of money to do the whole car correctly.....my question is this....should we tear the car down and put in the rear window plug? Or leave it the way it is....  

Bryan     

If my car looked that good I'd be too busy cruisin the wheels off of it to worry about the plug.   

[hotrod98]

I've created a monster. My wife's been winning car shows with that car everywhere she goes this year...trophies and cash. She hands me the trophy and keeps the cash.
With that fuel injected 5.9 and overdrive she gets 25 mpg and drives it like it's stolen. 

[hotrod98]

A383wing,
I agree with allbluert. Most people don't have a clue that the back glass is different. It's more a mopar guy thing than anything else. I only recently decided to add the plug to my list and I still wonder if it's the right thing to do sometimes. I have to admit, that I only noticed the difference a few years ago and I've been looking at them since 1970. Your car looks so nice, you may want to drive it for a while. Then if it ever gets a scratch in the paint, just use that as an excuse to install the plug...you know...since it has to have paint repair anyway. 

This is a pic of a car that I saw at St. Louis last year.

[Daytona Guy]

Here is some things to consider.

Bryan I have made 9 Daytona's and only half have had the rear plug.   I loved everyone of them.   I have seen your car in person and it is indeed a beautiful car. Every car that someone does takes on it's own personality.

Pros and cons. (I am assuming you will be using a Vega rear plug in drawing my conclusions)

Pros
Since your car is complete and has a perfect real wing, and a well put together nose and valance you are so close to having a complete Daytona. (Understanding "complete" is a relative word.)

Putting the plug in is only one step compared to having to make a complete clone from scratch.

If you are considering repainting your car, then putting the plug in will not be as hard of a pill to swallow.

If you put the plug in - it increases the value by about 10K.

I have had both. The plug is a challenge that will tax you, stretch you and take the life out of you. But, in the end, it is worth it.

You will not have to hear people talk about the plug missing.

Cons.
You have a great car and you get to drive it and enjoy it now. With all the shock and awe of a real Daytona.

You will need to get a new headliner.

Cut your trunck.

Extend your hinges.

Recreate the rear interior window molding mounts and molding.

If you do not have the funds, then the question is mute. You have an awesome car -   enjoy it.

You can always add a plug down the road.

Hope that helps -

[hotrod98]

The best pic that I have.

[Silver R/T]

unless you were selling it I wouldnt put it in

[2fast4u]

   IMHO  I would leave the rear window as is!!   But the one thing that I think would make it look better in the back would be to have the trim around the 70 tail lamps be the original chrome instead of black......cause you can't really see the taillights back there and makes it look like less of a charger without the chrome around there!

   I think the 70 trim looks better on the daytona....clone or original.....when it's painted right up to the tallights!

2fast

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

i say recreate the 70 r/t se special.-MATT

[FastbackJon]

Definitly plug it up! Just looks lacking without it in my opinion.

Oh, and don't forget them chrome A-pillar covers!

[5.9_Liter_Grand_Cherokee]

Bryan  Why would you want to mess up that purple paint??  My vote no plug.  Chris

PS  Are you thinking about going to sunbust?  I might be looking for something to drive.  i can provide my own gas.

[6pkrunner]

Plug it. The plug is just as much part of the package as the wing, nose, deflectors, fender scoops/clearance etc.

[cudaken]

 When I was doing a clone, I wanted the plug. But I also knew that it was going to be a big pain. Slug it self was not what bother me as much as cutting down the trunk.

The George's told me not to do it, Ted Janka said to do it. I was told that the slug could crack around where it was joined to the roof. I seen that at every drag strip I been to,  where a glass hood was boned to a steel hood. Guess that is why people are using the Vega rear glass and hatch back. Hum, where would even find a Vega in the mid west anyway? They rusted worst than our Charger's!

  With the car being done, it would be tuff to start all over.

Only thing I have left of the Daytona part's is a pair of rear front turing singals, rear wing bolts and front rail's to the nose. Well still have the Charger.

By the way, reason I did not do it? Got tired of waiting for part's, only one shippment in abiut a year.

                                             Cuda Ken

[BigBlockSam]

howdy
  i  dig your car, great lines.  putting the plug in is a personal decision. most people won't notice it. it would bother me not to have the plug installed. just wouldn't be complete without it. to me. if it doesn't bother you don't do it. i would.
Rene

[Old Moparz]

So.........with all the controversy, will you plug it or not?   

I'll almost contradict myself here. I say that if you really do want an accurate copy of a Daytona, then what the others said above is right, it looks unfinished so you'll need the plug. I notice the difference right away at shows or in photos, but only because I'm almost fanatical about wing cars. What Dane (Daytona Guy) & Cuda Ken said about the plug being a PITA, is one of the other reasons I won't do it myself. I'm more of a fan of custom cars than stock, but by no means will I degrade a stock resto with crayon marks. I appreciate both directions people go when they resurrect an old car no matter what.

Another minor difference for me, is that the VIN will say it isn't a Daytona, so a plug won't matter either. It's all personal preference though, so if you like & want the plug, save up for it to do it.

[BigBlockSam]

to anyone thats installed a plug. how many man hours do you think it takes to install. Rene

[thallium]

If you have the resources and 'know how' to put the plug in, I say do it.   Myself, I know I am not skilled enough to do it yet even though I would like to have the plug. So I'm not doing the plug, but I still think it looks nice without the plug.   Most people will not know the differnce about the plug, only us mopar freaks will know.     Your car is very nice, I would probably leave it alone if you do not have the time, money, and know how to finish it(unless it really really really bothers you), it looks really nice now.

[KMPX2]

It is not the same with out the plug. Do it.

[BigBlockSam]

It is not the same with out the plug. Do it.   

  makes it kinda real

[PlumBad70]

Hey mike, Heres the black and silver daytona at st. louis, its a little better pic

[Daytona Guy]

I know this is off the topic, but it does relate. Does anyone know where I can get some Vega rear window trim?

[MoparYoungGun]

If you have the resources and 'know how' to put the plug in, I say do it.   Myself, I know I am not skilled enough to do it yet even though I would like to have the plug. So I'm not doing the plug, but I still think it looks nice without the plug.   Most people will not know the differnce about the plug, only us mopar freaks will know.     Your car is very nice, I would probably leave it alone if you do not have the time, money, and know how to finish it(unless it really really really bothers you), it looks really nice now.

, I couldn't have said it better myself!

[BigBlockSam]

hey Dane
here is a link to some vega window trim, in good shape. Dane if you had to guess how many hours of work would it take to install the window plug and trunk lid . Rene

**Link Removed**

[Brock Samson]

 So here's a question to the guys who've had the plug..

Just how hard is it to get into the trunk with the cut down trunk lid?.
I read an article back in the day where it said it was a major PITA to get a space saver spare out...

[Daytona Guy]

hey Dane
here is a link to some vega window trim, in good shape. Dane if you had to guess how many hours of work would it take to install the window plug and trunk lid . Rene

**Link Removed**

Just put a bid in on it. Thanks

[Daytona Guy]

So here's a question to the guys who've had the plug..

Just how hard is it to get into the trunk with the cut down trunk lid?.
I read an article back in the day where it said it was a major PITA to get a space saver spare out...

As the the size of the trunk. I can get a full size tire in and out with out any trouble.

I do not keep track of the time put in so I cannot answer that. It does take a lot of time. You have to be creative, adaptive and resourceful.

[BigBlockSam]

i had a discussion with my helper. he said he thinks it'll take us 80 hrs. i said about 50 hrs. either way it's alot of work.

[A383Wing]

Thanks for all the replies guys.....still not sure which way to go....I will probably leave it the way it is. The color will never change....the wife picked out the color scheme.

Dane...good to hear from you....we need to get together seeing as how we are so close.

Chris...we will be at Sunbust, but will probably only bring the cream 66...just got the interior done.

A lot of you asked me for pictures of the car...I have 16 ready to forward to anyone who wants them. Email me at A383Wing@aol.com and I will send them to you.

Thanks all.....Bryan 

[Daytona Guy]

Hey, we ought to get AllblueRT's red clone yours and mine and have a Daytona clone show.